“Ten years, and not one thing has changed in this dump,” Vanessa said, folding her arms tight over her silk blouse.

She tapped her high heel over and over against the floorboards.

Lily sat squeezed between Sarah and Mark, staring down at her empty blue ceramic plate.

She chewed the inside of her cheek until her chin puckered.

“Sit down, Mark,” I said, walking into the room.

I pulled out the heavy maple chair opposite Vanessa and sat down without taking off my thick canvas work coat.

“Aren’t you going to take your jacket off in the house, Daniel?” Vanessa asked, propping her elbows on the tablecloth.